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TANF-ACF-PI-2001-04 (FY 2002 TANF High Performance Bonus Measures Related to Participation in the Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP))

Guidance for state TANF agencies to transmit the instructions and reporting form a State must use if it wishes to compete on the high performance bonus Medicaid/SCHIP measures beginning in FY 2002.

Final

Issued by: Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Issue Date: August 23, 2001

To:

State Agencies Administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program and Other Interested Parties

Subject:

FY 2002 TANF High Performance Bonus Measures Related to Participation in the Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

References:

Section 403(a)(4) of the Social Security Act and 45 CFR Part 270.4(d)

Purpose:

This Program Instruction transmits the instructions and reporting form a State must use if it wishes to compete on the high performance bonus Medicaid/SCHIP measures beginning in FY 2002.

Background:

Section 403(a)(4) of the Social Security Act makes $1 billion available over a five-year period to reward States that achieve high performance in meeting the purposes and goals of the TANF program.  We issued the formula and measures for the first three years of the high performance bonus awards (FY1999 through FY 2001) based on four work measures via program guidance.

On August 30, 2000, we published final regulations applicable to high performance bonuses to be awarded beginning in FY 2002.  One of the measures added in the final rule considers the participation of former TANF recipients in the Medicaid and SCHIP programs.  The measure consists of two parts: an absolute measure and an improvement measure.

We will calculate scores and award bonuses to the three States with the highest scores on the absolute measure and to the seven States with the highest scores on the improvement measure.

We will distribute bonus dollars for each measure to States that successfully compete based on each State's share of the total amount of the State Family Assistance Grants (SFAGs) involved.  The total amount of award dollars a State can receive for all measures may not exceed five percent of its SFAG.

States have the option to compete on one, several, or all of the measures in the high performance bonus system.  In this case, a State may elect to compete on the absolute measure, the improvement measure, or both.  States must tell us, by February 28 of the bonus year, the measures on which they choose to compete.

To compete on the Medicaid/SCHIP measure will necessitate cooperation between the TANF and Medicaid agencies to track the Medicaid/SCHIP enrollment of former TANF recipients.  We developed these specifications in consultation with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), formerly the Health Care Financing Administration.  CMS will be issuing similar guidance to State Medicaid Directors to facilitate the necessary data exchange.

Instructions:

The final rule at 45 CFR 270.4(d) specifies that, beginning in FY 2002, we will measure the number of individuals receiving TANF and Medicaid or SCHIP benefits, who leave TANF during a fiscal year and are enrolled in Medicaid or SCHIP in the fourth month after leaving TANF assistance, but who are not receiving TANF assistance in the fourth month.

Note that these measurements are limited to the status of individuals enrolled in Medicaid or SCHIP and who are not receiving TANF assistance at two points in time, i.e., in the first and in the fourth month after leaving TANF.  We are not tracking whether an individual is continuously off TANF during the four months after leaving (with emphasis).

Bonus Formulas:

We will use the FY 2000 and FY 2001 data reported by the States on Form ACF-210 (attached) to calculate the FY 2002 Medicaid and SCHIP high performance bonus awards.

FY 2001 Performance Rate (Absolute Measure)

The numerator of this calculation is the sum of the number of individuals in the three months of Quarters 1 through 4, who left TANF assistance while enrolled in Medicaid/SCHIP and, in the fourth month after leaving, were not receiving TANF assistance but were enrolled in Medicaid/SCHIP.  (See Item 4 on the attached reporting form.)

The denominator is the sum of the number of individuals in the three months of Quarters 1 through 4, who were enrolled in Medicaid/SCHIP at the time of leaving TANF assistance and who are not receiving TANF assistance in the following fourth month.  (See Item 3 on the attached reporting form.)

FY 2001 Improvement Rate (Improvement Measure)

This rate is the difference in percentage points between the performance rate for FY 2000 and the performance rate for FY 2001, i.e., the FY 2001 performance rate minus the FY 2000 performance rate.

Each State competing for FY 2002 high performance bonuses on the Medicaid/SCHIP measures must electronically submit quarterly reports on Form ACF-210 showing FY 2000 and FY 2001 data as specified.  We will advise States at a later date on the electronic specifications. The reports are due as follows:

Submittal Date

Quarter

Submittal Date

Quarter 1 (October - December)

 March 31, 2002

Quarter 2 (January - March)

March 31, 2002

Quarter 3 (April - June)

May 15, 2002

Quarter 4 (July - September)

June 30, 2002

Effective Date:

Immediately

Attachments:

Form ACF-210 and instructions.

Inquiries:

Inquiries should be directed to the appropriate ACF HUB Director/Regional Administrator.

/s/

Ann Burek, Acting Director
Office of Family Assistance

Howard Rolston, Director
Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation

210 Instructions and Forms 

DISCLAIMER: The contents of this database lack the force and effect of law, except as authorized by law (including Medicare Advantage Rate Announcements and Advance Notices) or as specifically incorporated into a contract. The Department may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not posted on the guidance repository, except to establish historical facts.